PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Millennium (ranked 2459 p4p, 239 weight class) and Ishiihara Sakuraba (ranked 2557 p4p, 249 weight class). The key to victory for Chris Millennium has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Millennium
vs
Sakuraba

175 cm
38
155 lbs
10 - 13 - 2

165 cm
28
145 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Millennium!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ishiihara Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A good leg kick by Millennium.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Millennium.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sakuraba has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sakuraba shoots for a takedown but Millennium saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Millennium swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Millennium is fending him off so far but Sakuraba persists. Nope, Millennium circles away and we're back to standing.
Millennium lands with a hook. Sakuraba tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sakuraba shoots for a takedown but Millennium saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Chris Millennium has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ishiihara Sakuraba.
Millennium scores with a jab to the jaw.
Millennium misses with a body kick.

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Millennium seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Millennium looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Millennium keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba advances position into side control!
Sakuraba is putting a hurting on Millennium here, landing some big shots from side control.
Millennium takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sakuraba landing strikes.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Millennium keeps working.
Sakuraba works to advance to full mount. Millennium defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba lands with some strikes.
Millennium can't escape the position.
Millennium in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Millennium is in a horrible position here. Sakuraba smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Millennium wants to control but Sakuraba is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Millennium really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakuraba postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Millennium looks a forlorn figure.
Sakuraba postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Millennium looks a forlorn figure.
Millennium is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba unloading with bombs!

Millennium is rocked!
Sakuraba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Millennium is looking to escape.
Oh Millennium is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakuraba prevents Millennium from getting the reversal.
Millennium seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sakuraba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Millennium is looking to escape.
Millennium wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sakuraba.
Millennium in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sakuraba tries to control but Millennium wriggling away.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Millennium is trying to escape the mount.
Sakuraba looking to control but Millennium is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Millennium is trying to escape the mount.
Sakuraba landing punches.
Sakuraba punishing his opponent with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sakuraba goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Millennium turns into him and now he's in Sakuraba's guard.

Sakuraba has his foot on Millennium's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Millennium works his way back into a safe position though.
Millennium tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Millennium wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Millennium passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishiihara Sakuraba dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Millennium stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Millennium wants it to stay on the feet.
Millennium stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Millennium was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Millennium as he jumps to the side.
Chris Millennium has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ishiihara Sakuraba.

Sakuraba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sakuraba wants to free his trapped foot but Millennium is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Millennium is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba trying to control but not successfully.

Millennium is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Millennium controlling well, preventing Sakuraba from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Millennium has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Sakuraba's body.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.

Millennium looking for the choke from the back.
Sakuraba is really stuck here.
Millennium struggling to keep hold of the position.
Millennium gets his hands free as Sakuraba looks to control.
Sakuraba is keeping busy.

Millennium tightening his grip on Sakuraba, looking for the choke.

Millennium is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sakuraba is defending well though. Millennium let's go of the attempt for now.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sakuraba looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Sakuraba is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Millennium gets his way!
Millennium avoiding Sakuraba 's attempts to control his hands.

Millennium tightening his grip on Sakuraba, looking for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Millennium avoiding Sakuraba 's attempts to control his hands.

Millennium working for the choke.
Millennium is hanging on to Sakuraba's back as he tries to escape.
Sakuraba trying to control the hands but Millennium won't let him.
Millennium keeps control of the position as Sakuraba tries to break free.
Millennium tries to get the hooks in deep but Sakuraba pushed the leg off.
I really don't envy Sakuraba right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Millennium's arms.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.

Millennium is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sakuraba is defending well though. Millennium let's go of the attempt for now.
Sakuraba staying busy and making it hard for Millennium to control.
Sakuraba just trying to survive but Millennium is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Millennium working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Millennium struggling to keep hold of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakuraba tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Millennium dominated that second round.
That's time! Millennium's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A telegraphed right hand from Millennium misses the target.
Nice sprawl there from Millennium as Sakuraba shoots in.
Chris Millennium seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Millennium but Millennium pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sakuraba is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Millennium's half guard.
Millennium scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Sakuraba manages to mount him!
Millennium keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba punishing his opponent with strikes.
Millennium is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Millennium bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Millennium wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Sakuraba has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Millennium has passed into side control.
Sakuraba manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Millennium is trying to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Millennium is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sakuraba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Millennium is just riding it out for now. Sakuraba eventually gives up the hold.
Sakuraba has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sakuraba avoids the attempt from Millennium to control.
Sakuraba controlling the pace for now.
Millennium is wriggling around trying to escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Millennium defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Millennium sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Millennium is looking to control Sakuraba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Millennium avoid being mounted?
Millennium is positioning himself well to prevent Sakuraba advancing to mount.

Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Millennium doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
Sakuraba seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Millennium scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Sakuraba manages to mount him!
Sakuraba working Millennium over with strikes here.
Millennium is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Sakuraba.
Millennium taking shots to the head.

Millennium tries to improve his position but Sakuraba has taken his back! Sakuraba has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Millennium tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Sakuraba pushes Millennium away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ishiihara Sakuraba!